I am not a "deep thinker", or a great writer, so I don't/can't always express what is really going on in this crazy messed-up mind of mine. Fortunately, there are a few people out there who are talented writers with profound thoughts about raising a child with Down syndrome.

If you are a member of MOPS, you may have noticed an article in the recent MOMSense magazine written by Ellen Stumbo (Stumbo Family Story), titled Cure for Selfishness. It is a beautiful article about how having a daughter with Ds saved her from her selfishness heart. It was a story I could relate to on many levels, because Ellen puts into words many of things I felt when Anna was first born. (Incidentally, there was also an article called, Not Tonight, Honey...I am Blogging. Man, was this issue of MOMSense meant for me, or what?! - ha!!)

And, I love this recent post about Doubt by Tara at Simeon's Trail. I appreciate her honesty, her insights, and her faith. Thanks for letting me share, Tara!

Go check them out, and I hope you enjoy them! If you want, you can pretend that I wrote them (even though I didn't).

Monday, March 29, 2010

This spring, instead of soccer, we signed Charlie up for t-ball. This will be Charlie's first time playing t-ball, so it should be fun.

This past weekend we went and picked out a mitt and a ball. Charlie could not wait to get home and play catch with his daddy. =)

So, Let Spring Training 2010 Begin!!

We told him the key to baseball is to keep your eye on the ball.And to quote my dad, who was my softball coach for many years, "It hurts just as much with you eyes shut." Anna enjoyed the view from the cheap seats. =)Look for more posts about t-ball once the weather gets warmer!

Monday, March 22, 2010

The other day while we were outside playing, one of Charlie’s classmates walked by with his mom and brother (3) and sister (2 in May).

While the other mom and I were chatting, I could hear Charlie and his friend talking. They were comparing their dogs and bragging about whose dog is better…

C: ”Maggie is the shaggiest.”

K: “Well, Jack has really big teeth."

C: “Maggie is the fastest.”

K: “No, Jack is the fastest, and he has really big paws.”

…It went back and forth like this. I was getting a chuckle out of their banter, and was waiting for the , “Well, my dad can beat up your dad” comment. What I got, instead, was a comment that knocked the wind out of me temporarily. Charlie’s friend said, “Well, my sister and can walk, and yours can’t.”

Ugh! And I had just been doing a little celebration dance in my mind because she had just cruised the whole way around the pack-n-play.

In fairness to Charlie’s friend, he had no idea what he was saying or that it stung me so. They were just having fun, and he had no idea that Anna has Down syndrome or how old she is or anything like that. He had no idea what he was saying, and he definitely didn’t intend for it to be a mean comment. He was merely pointing out a difference.

Perhaps I should have taken the opportunity for some Ds awareness, but it just seemed like too deep of a conversation to get into at that point. Besides, he and Charlie were off and running before I could recover from the jab, anyway. I think it is because it took me off-guard that it affected me so.

His mother did apologize, and I let it go. But, man…that one was below the belt! =(

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Today, the 21st day of the 3rd month, was chosen as World Ds Day because it symbolizes the 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome.

Today we celebrate the unexpected blessings that God has given us.

I have nothing profound to say...so instead, I will post a couple of pictures of our favorite little chromosomally enhanced cutie taken last Friday evening at an Easter egg hunt. --- I must say...Yellow is a great color for the Banana Pants! =)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

We have been enjoying some beautiful weather this week. Yesterday afternoon, I shirked all my other household duties in order to get the kids outside.

While I cleaned out the car (which was a complete mess from winter salt and grime), Anna had a ball playing in the pack-n-play in the front yard.Paige enjoyed an outside picnic.And Charlie read to the girls in the great outdoors.

Then we headed down the street to a friend's house where the girls had a nice "Spring Swing".Yep...Spring is in the Air!!! Inhale deeply!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Paige likes for me to read her a book before she takes her nap. She picks it out and gets into bed and waits for me to come read to her. Her current favorite book is My Sister, Alicia May. Have you read it or seen it? It is a book about the relationship between two sisters...one who happens to have Down Syndrome. I think it gives a very accurate, yet positive, portrayal of the blessings and challenges that come with growing up with a sibling who has special needs.

I love this book, and I love reading it to Paige. I can picture Paige and Anna as these two girls in the book in a few years.

And the illustrations are incredible. Here is a picture of my favorite page in the book. I am pretty sure that Paige does not understand that Anna is like Alicia May, in that they both have Down Syndrome. In fact, when I asked Paige if she knew that Anna was like the girl in the book, she said, "Yeah. Anna is cute is like Alicia May. And funny." But, I guess that is a good thing. She doesn't see Alicia May, or Anna, as special because they have Down syndrome, but because they are who God made them.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

We've been thinking about going skiing with the kids for a while now. I grew up skiing and Jonathan, and I used to ski all the time, before kids. Plus, we want the kids to learn how to ski while they are young and fearless.

So, yesterday we decided to let Charlie play hooky from school so he could participate in a different type of school...Ski School!

Charlie and Paige did awesome for their first time on skis! Below is a little video my hubby put together to capture the day. (Note: quality not so great because I foolishly left the memory card to our real camera in the printer at home, so all video and pics are from Jonathan's iPhone.)

And, what did we do with Anna while we were skiing? She had a super fun day at the ski lodge nursery! Seriously, can you beat $4/hour to watch, feed, play with and care for your child? And she loved it! We checked in on her periodically and she was a having a lot of fun. They fed her lunch, and then she took a nice long nap.

A good time was had by all! Now I almost wish that winter wasn't ending so soon....Nah!

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Anna Banana Pants

Anna Banana Pants is our third child who has a little something extra...an extra 21st chromosome. Having a child with Down syndrome is not the life sentence that many believe it to be. In fact, it is the probably the greatest blessing we have received as a family. This blog is about Anna, and our everyday family life.